Voices in Kashmir calling to follow Ramadan’s Message of peace and humanity

The holy month of Ramadan has started in the entire Islamic world. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, it is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims desist from eating, drinking and sexual needs from dawn until sunset.

As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year depending on the moon. Pertinently, Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

With the recent ceasefire announcement by the Government during month of Ramadan the masses are hopeful that this Ramadan passes on peacefully and becomes a foundation for achieving lasting peace and prosperity in Kashmir.

As a matter of fact, the Valley of Kashmir being predominantly a “Muslim” dominated area, so this holy month has special significance for the masses of Kashmir. The people of Kashmir are hopeful that peace and prosperity would return to Kashmir as virtue of this holy month.

We at the Kashmir News Bureau talked to diverse eminent, common voices to understand the basic crux of message of Ramadhan for global peace and humanity .

Eminent Scholar Professor .(Dr.)Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi, Senior Faculty Member at Kashmir University’s Islamic Study Department , while talking to the Kashmir News Bureau stated – “Holy month of Ramadan is the month of blessing . The essence of fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of Allah. Every good deed in this life has its roots in the self control and Ramadhan teaches in best way us the self control. Self control is the best way to learn patience, develop abhorrence towards violent behavior and have control over greed. Ramadan Message via self control for us the humans is to develop the passion towards harbingering global peace and humanity . Values of mercy, self control , tolerance learned via fasting should be followed throughout the year so that we strengthen the roots of global peace and humanity . Ramadan fast should enrich our self control, tolerance towards opposite world views , the passion towards following right path in life and if right lessons are learnt Ramadhan would for sure be a significant path builder in promoting global peace and humanity.”

Moulana Khurshid Ahmad Qunango, eminent religious scholar stated – “Ramadan teaches us to have control over bodily desires and I am of firm belief that if we transmit the very ideals into reality we would via message of Ramadhan usher global peace and harmony throughout the world. Holy Quran was revealed in Ramadhan and its teachings are clear and apt : Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32. ) . The world of ours including Kashmir which is full of bloodshed and misfortunes can move towards a better times if we really follow the message of tolerance, human brotherhood and humanity learnt in Ramadan. In our part of world, it is not just health, wealth and luxury for which the Muslims in Kashmir would toil during Ramadan, dignified peace is also at the top of their prayers . “

Irshad Ahmad, a commoner stated – “Ramadan is the holiest month of year for the Muslims throughout the world. We need to bear in mind that the essence of fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. If we take the overall teachings of Ramadan in real perspective then it should help us in becoming better human beings and believe in leading a life of peace and compassion. It should also makes us tolerant towards others religions and make us real humanity lover. I hope that our younger generation entangled in so many troubles would take correct lessons and usher in a peaceful way of life via teachings of Ramadan.”

The pulse from expert voices to masses is that the great message of Peace, Humanity should be followed in letter and spirit by the Muslims of Kashmir and Muslims of entire world. With Ramadan ceasefire in effect the hopes and optimism of seeing a peaceful and prosperous Kashmir remain all time high. (KNB)